32CSM Scotland

Thursday, June 30, 2011

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement Scotland repudiates recent media reports made by journalist and blogger David Leggat as false in which he claims that the 32CSM in Scotland are linked to ' the Real IRA'. Mr Leggat made these claims on his own personal blog after details of a protest in support of the Irish Republican POW's was posted onto the Green Brigade's politics forum.The 32CSM Scotland wish to clarify in direct response to these claims which also appear on loyalist web sites, that this protest is not an “IRA rally” or a march through the streets. His article also claims that SKY Television, who have an advert on the Green Brigades forum, are in turn funding terrorism as they would be paying for said advert on the forum and trying to connect through flase links. This however could not be further from the truth. The 32CSM has no links at all to the IRA and also no links to the Green Brigade. If any member of the Green Brigade or any other member of the public were to attend the protest, which is for the purpose of support, solidarity and raising awareness of the conditions and treatment the Republican POW’s are being subject to in Maghaberry, Portlaoise, France & Lithuania, they would be doing so as and individual. We hope this can clarify the situation.

Monday, April 25, 2011

The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann extend Easter greetings and solidarity to all our friends and supporters both nationally and internationally, we extend our thanks to anyone who has helped the republican cause in any way and express our gratitude in advance for your assistance in the future. Everyone can make a contribution to the Irish freedom struggle, no part is too small.

The Republican movement wish to commend our volunteers for the courage, commitment and discipline they have shown in the face of huge odds, the republican struggle is entering a crucial phase with our enemies united in trying to end republican resistance once and for all, they will fail. In order to combat the forces of repression and partition republicans must think strategically and pragmatically. Republican unity must remain a key objective and aspiration for all republicans, for our part the IRA have worked closely with other organisations in every way and we will do so in the future. A united republican base is much more able to withstand the onslaught of the united forces of occupation.

Special mention must be made of the republican POW's in Maghaberry and their continued resistance to the torturous prison regime in place there. To those who say that the British occupation of Ireland has changed we say why, 30 years after 10 brave comrades died in British jails in Ireland, are Irishmen still fighting for political status and still being brutalised for doing so? We ask for your continued support for these captured volunteers who will never submit to degradation and criminalisation. We send greetings to the IRA unit in Portlaoise and send solidarity and support to republicans held overseas.

Oglaigh na hEireann call on any young nationalist who may have been sold the lie that the RUC/PSNI is somehow an reformed, non political police service to think again, those who think they are serving their community are in fact serving the occupation and will be treated as such.

The GAA, Catholic church and constitutional nationalism will be unable to protect those who turn traitor, they are as liable for execution as anyone else regardless of their religion, cultural background or motivation.

The IRA repeat our warnings to civilians to stay away from the scenes of IRA attacks or alerts, we have noticed a pattern developing whereby the RUC/PSNI are deliberately putting civilians at risk. These so called modern day heroes were brave enough to allow hundreds of non combatants to pass a large IRA bomb in Newry,we do not believe that this was sheer incompetence of their behalf but a calculated action aimed at putting civilians in the danger zone to protect themselves and discredit republicans. With this in mind we ask both the public and all volunteers to be careful and vigilant, with the occupation forces coming under increased pressure from the resistance movement they are more likely to take drastic action out of desperation.

It has come to the attention of the republican leadership that in a number of areas across the country criminal gangs are using the cover of republicanism to further their own selfish ends, this will not be tolerated, a harsh sentence will be dealt to anyone misusing the name of the IRA. Too many have paid the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of our noble ideal to allow it to be sullied by criminals masquerading as republicans, anyone involved in this should stop and stop now.

Oglaigh na hEireann urge all self respecting Irishmen and women to resist the upcoming insult that is the visit of a British monarch to Irish soil, the criminal free state government invite is not on behalf of the Irish people but to further the selfish interests of a self serving elite.

Despite the best efforts of the media, big business, and other power blocks to portray this visit as acceptable we clearly state that the Irish people will not capitulate. The queen of England is wanted for war crimes in Ireland and not wanted on Irish soil. we will do our best to ensure she and the gombeen class that act as her cheerleaders get that message.

Finally we wish to state clearly and unequivocally that the leadership of the IRA is not in any negotiations with the British government, Free state government or anyone that represents them. Those who continually repeat this lie must explain their actions and we must clearly question their motivation, to them we say, don't judge the IRA by your standards. If the British are serious about discussing the restoration of Irish sovereignty then we will listen to their proposals, anything else is a waste of time. The IRA, in cooperation with others will continue to resist occupation to the best of our ability, anything less would be a betrayal of all those Brave men and women who fill our graveyards this Easter.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

32CSM Scotland - Walk For The POW's

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Scotland have decided that we will be walking the West Highland Way (http://www.west-highland-way.co.uk/) in order to raise funds for the POW's, If you want to take part with us or sponsor us to do this please contact - scotland32csm@hotmail.com We are aiming for this to take place in July, This will take us around 7 days to complete.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Scotland recently attended the annual Glencoe Massacre commemoration organised by the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement. The commemoration took place on Saturday the 12th February at the Glencoe Massacre Memorial and was attended very well and there was also a social afterwards. The Glencoe massacre took place on the 13th February 1692 when 38 members of the MacDonald clan were massacred by the Campbell clan sent by the crown forces. The Vol. Charles Carrigan Cumann of the 32CSM wish to thank the organisers for what was a very successfull day and helps keep Scottish history fresh in everyones minds.

Monday, February 7, 2011

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement Scotland condems the deliberate censorship of Irish Republicans by the Scottish media. The 32CSM were contacted by a reporter from the Sunday Mail asking for a statement on the growth of Irish Republicanism in Scotland and about the Bloody Sunday commemoration in both Glasgow & Derry to which we replied. The Sunday Mail then took the option to censor our report by not printing it after they said they would. It would seem freedom of speech only applys to some. The 32CSM Scotland has taken the decision to release the statement which was issued and can be found below.

Irish Republicanism in Scotland has witnessed significant growth over the past few years in Scotland. The 32 County Sovereignty Movement (32CSM) is proud that we have been at the forefront of it working with other progressive Irish republicans. We are firmly established here in Scotland with the Volunteer Charles Carrigan Cumann and the Vol Charles Carrigan RFB, and boast a large number of members from all over Scotland from Aberdeen - Edinburgh. The role of Republicans in Scotland is mainly to raise awareness of issues which occur in Ireland highlighting the ongoing denial of Irish National Sovereignty, which former republicans failed to secure in their pursuit for power and a seat at Westminster.

Further out one of our main issues is to highlight the ongoing mistreatment of Irish Republican Prisoners Of War in Maghaberry&Portlaoise, France, & Lithuania, it must be remembered these prisoners are there because the cause of the conflict remains, the denial of Irish National Sovereignty. The recent disclosure of State papers clearly shows that the issue of republican prisoners was a cornerstone in British strategy to undermine our struggle. They clearly show how Dublin also collaborated to achieve the same end. This collaboration now has an added dimension in that former comrades are now part of the British establishment in Ireland. That establishment takes it for granted that its members collaborate in the wider British interest. The 32CSM have openly called on the PSF leadership to come clean and to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths. They should be transparent and state the obvious; it is their regime which is inflicting this degradation on republican prisoners. Is this the so called peaceful alternative to Irish unity? It is your actions that define you, not your words, overt or otherwise.

The 32CSM hold fund-raisers for the POW's & we also campaign on other social issues such as - The cuts, Student protests & do all we can to campaign against drugs in our communities. The 32 CSM in Scotland work alongside Scottish Republicanism actively supporting campaigns for an Independent Scotland free from English rule and has attended some events such as the Glencoe Massacre Commemoration & The Annual John MacLean Rally.

The Republican Movement as a whole in Scotland has split in two different directions much like Ireland, which most people refer to the GFA way of constitutional nationalism, and the Irish republican way, its fair to say that Irish Republicanism as a whole is starting to grow day by day in Scotland as more and more people start to wake up and realise that Provisional Sinn Fein misled the Irish republican base in Scotland.. The Irish cause has always had strong links with Scotland going back hundreds of years; Scotland has also produced one of Ireland's most famous son's, Easter Rising 1916 hero, James Connolly who was born in the Cowgate area of Edinburgh on the 5th of June 1868. Scottish Republicans have always been well looked upon by our Irish comrades for our hard work on raising attention to certain issues through the years and fund-raising. Hopefully Republicanism in Scotland will continue to stay strong over the next few years which will prove pivotal in which direction The Republican movement as a whole in Ireland is going to go.

This year 2011 marks the 39th anniversary of Bloody Sunday (30th January 1972) when British paratroopers murdered 14 innocent civilians who were out on a Civil Rights demonstration in Derry's Bogside area. Just last year 2010 the Saville Report was finally issued and it concluded that soldiers of the British Army’s 1 PARA unit had 'lost control' and were to blame for the murders of the innocent civilians.

Every year there are annual events to commemorate those who died in Derry and there is also an annual parade in Glasgow. This year could well be set to be the last ever Bloody Sunday Commemoration in both Ireland & Scotland after the outcome of the Saville Report. This year’s parade is being seen as more of a 'celebration of justice' parade rather than the usual 'march for justice'. This years Glasgow parade takes place on Sunday 23rd January, the week before the main one in Derry. The main parade in Derry on Sunday 30th January, will be attended by both The Volunteer Charles Carrigan Cumann and our comrades from The Gaughan/Stagg Cumann in England. There are many more Irish Republicans in Scotland that will also be making the trip for what could be the last time this event takes place, Its always a very well attended event that people from all over Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales & Further a field travel to year after year. Lets hope that this year is the best yet !

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

The events of 30th January, 1972 have had a profound effect on the nationalist people of Ireland in general and the nationalist people of Derry city in particular. I don't need to go too deeply into the events of 39 years ago as most people are more than familiar with them and the political situation surrounding them. However there is no doubt that the brutal display of British policy in Ireland played no small part in hastening the pace at which the republican movement fought their war. The image that the British displayed around the world as a peacekeeping force to separate two warring factions was comprehensively shattered and it became evident to many that the British army and state was at war with the nationalist people of the occupied six counties and their army, the IRA. There have been many theories over the years as to what the British hoped to achieve on Bloody Sunday, even today that is open to debate however there is no doubt that the British state deliberately and coldly issued a political directive to its forces to gun down civilians in an area it claimed sovereignty over. Saville confirmed what everyone in Ireland has known for four decades, that these people were innocent, people like my grandmother, the only woman shot that day who luckily survived her wounds. Many commentators have also remarked that Bloody Sunday was a turning point for the IRA, recruitment in the immediate aftermath hitting levels never seen before or indeed since, this is also true, young men from the city were undoubtedly incensed and wanted to strike back at the British state, young men like my father, who was later to die on active service with the republican army.

If we fast forward to 2011 we must question whether or not British state interests in Ireland have changed at all. There have been many cosmetic changes, many political talking shops and many agreements cobbled together under their watchful eye. The political reality is that despite all these various initiatives there has never, ever been one that will deal with the root cause of the conflict. The issue of sovereignty is the reason why the British army were in Derry 39 years ago, the same issue is why they are in Derry today. The sovereignty issue is why the IRA have engaged the British army and colonial police force and why the republican forces continue to do so today.The issue of sovereignty has always been left at the door of any past negotiations at the insistence of the British negotiators, today the great and the good in my city and across Ireland make well publicised attempts to engage the 'dissidents' in an effort to cease the conflict but unless they are prepared to address the causes of the conflict then any such engagements are futile and merely for the optics. The republican movement are sincere in ending all conflict in Ireland and will afford it the seriousness it deserves, we will not engage in a process for political careerism which seems to be the motivation of some in my city, nor to show our new masters how loyal we are, which seems to be the motivation of others.

The British state forces in Ireland, the army, police and security apparatus have increased harassment of republicans noticably in the last few months. Republicans are stopped on sight, homes are destroyed and even children are stripped and fondled in the guise of searches.The British army, which officially no longer is involved in front line activities in the occupied area wrecked my home recently and indeed they ripped up notes i had regarding Bloody Sunday and the Saville inquiry. Men are arrested regularly and following days in isolation in interrogation centres released, many having been barely asked a question, others are charged on laughable evidence and are condemned to long periods on remand before the charges are dropped and still others are serving long sentences for politically motivated frame ups. This time is spent in the north in Maghaberry prison which has seen numerous protests at the draconian prison regime and even as we speak men are being beaten badly for refusing strip searches in line with an agreement they previously made with the British administration, this agreement, like so many before it has been broken by the sectarian prison officers association.

The British will claim that all this is necessary to combat a growing republican threat, and without doubt support for the republican position is growing daily but have the British learned nothing in 40 years? with every house raid another republican is made, with every roadside or street assault another republican is made and with the collective targetting of republicans our collective determination grows. Unless the British are serious about addressing the cause of the conflict which is their refusal to recognise democracy and Irish sovereignty then the cycle will continue, violence will unleash violence and so on, the British appear to be happy to try and contain the conflict and portray it as a small criminal conspiracy, they have tried that before, they will not contain a risen people.

Monday, January 3, 2011

We commend our activists for their diligence and hard work in attempting to secure the integrity of our national sovereignty. We applaud the efforts of others who struggle likewise under their own chosen banner. We send New Year greetings to republican POW’s and their families and rededicate ourselves to their service.

2010 was a year which laid bare the harsh realities of our struggle. In protest against the degradation of strip searching and its vindictive use republican POW’s embarked on a series of actions in protest against the Stormont’s regime’s deliberate policy of attacking republican prisoners. Matched on the outside by regular vigils and marches the political opposition which was generated forced the authorities into negotiations.

With the use of agreed independent arbiters an agreement was reached to the satisfaction of all. However the authorities have resumed their original policy of using strip searching to degrade the prisoners. This was a political decision which has implications for all republicans. An attack on one prisoner is an attack on all prisoners and demands a unified response from all republican organisations. Our resolve must at least match that of the prisoners if we are to successfully confront Stormont’s prison policy.

The recent disclosure of State papers clearly shows that the issue of republican prisoners was a cornerstone in British strategy to undermine our struggle. They clearly show how Dublin also collaborated to achieve the same end. This collaboration now has an added dimension in that former comrades are now part of the British establishment in Ireland. That establishment takes it for granted that its members collaborate in the wider British interest. We openly call on the PSF leadership to come clean and to stop talking out of both sides of their mouths. It is your regime which is inflicting this degradation on republican prisoners. Is this your so called peaceful alternative to Irish unity? It is your actions that define you, not your words, overt or otherwise.

2010 also witnessed seismic events in economic terms. Fianna Fáil’s self serving economics led the State to bankruptcy. It bailed out bankers and developers and levied the bill on ordinary citizens. They privatised profits and socialised losses. They surrendered their so called sovereignty to the International Monetary Fund all the while denying it in drunken interviews to the people. But the real issue for republicans and socialists is that our protests failed to impact on events. The crisis in capitalism, which should have opened up so many opportunities for our cause, was duly addressed by capitalism itself. This is the reality we must face and we must face it pragmatically.

2011 must be a year of introspection and innovation. We must look at ourselves and address our failings. What went before has reached its zenith. We need to explore and devise new ways of getting our message across. We need to be more innovative in our protests. We can no longer be satisfied that our protests simply happen: they must also have meaningful effect.

We address young republicans everywhere; this is your time, it is your era, your society, your technological age, you need to lead the way on this front. Irish society has evolved a new language in which it communicates with itself and we need to learn it. Republicanism needs your ideas to advance. Our communities have the expectation of new initiatives to assist them. We need to demonstrate to our people that our aims are relevant to their everyday lives and represent an enrichment of society.

The continued violation of our national sovereignty has led to the inevitable consequence of armed struggle. Those who are engaging in military operations against British occupation have every right to do so, as they always had throughout our history. The function of the Sovereignty Movement is not to question this right nor question the merits of invoking it but to address the cause which makes it inevitable. This we will continue to do in whatever way we deem to be progressive. Treating the Irish Republican Army as a militia is a deeply flawed approach. Predicating a peace strategy on the exclusion of Irish national rights is doomed to failure.

The 32 County Sovereignty Movement reaffirms our commitment to seeking an end to British Parliamentary activity in our country. The divisions amongst our people can only begin to be resolved when Westminster and its many agendas are finally removed.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Anglo Irish conflict is not resolved. The British Parliament and Crown still maintains a sovereign claim over part of Ireland. Acts of insurgency against this claim continue. Irish POW’s remain incarcerated. No amount of emotional rhetoric or flawed references to democracy can mask these blatant truths.

The starting point for democracy in Ireland is an immediate British withdrawal. The terms for a just peace must begin with self determination for the Irish people. Every generation has asserted these rights. Acts of the British Parliament can have no place in the sovereign affairs of the Irish people.

The claims of British neutrality toward the Six Counties are a sham. Their vindictive punishment of republican prisoners of war is one testimony of this. It has always been British policy in Ireland to abuse republican prisoners as a means to undermine the broader republican struggle. And it has always been met with the same determined response. Like all colonial powers they fail to comprehend the immortal words of republican prisoner and hunger striker Terence Mac Swiney; “It is not those who can inflict the most but those who can endure the most who will conquer”.

In Maghaberry Gaol the Prison Authorities, with the blessing of their political masters in Stormont, engaged in a policy of using degrading strip searches to intimidate and cower republican POW’s. These abuses were carried out systematically. Solitary confinement was imposed on the whim of screws. Visits with family were also impeded as part of this policy.

But the POW’s would not be cowered or intimidated. Neither would their families. They embarked on a series of protests directly challenging the regime. Outside of the prison thousands took to the streets in solidarity with our comrades. Despite the best efforts of the establishment and the media their silence on the issue could not be maintained. The groundswell of anger and support forced them to the table.

With independent arbiters an agreement was reached which addressed the prisoner’s demands. The protest came to a conclusion. But like any agreement with such authorities it needs to be constantly monitored. This is not just the task of a few but the duty of all of us concerned with this issue. Be assured there are those who are diametrically opposed to this agreement, or any agreement, which affords POW’s their deserved status. They will actively seek ways to undermine and reintroduce the old system of abuse. We need to say to such faceless servants of the Crown; you will fail!

On behalf of all Irish POW’s we extend fraternal greetings and heartfelt thanks to our comrades in England, Scotland and Wales who have campaigned so selfishly on their behalf. Your efforts have been a great source of inspiration to them in their incarceration.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Welcome

If you wish to contact the 32 County Sovereignty Movement in Scotland please use the following email:

Vol_Charles_Carrigan_Cumann@hotmail.co.uk

Vol Charles Carrigan

Volunteer Charles Carrigan

Charles Carrigan was born in Glasgow of Irish parents. He came to Dublin a few months before the Rising. He possessed rare mental gifts and managed while working at his trade as a tailor to attend night classes. He became proficient in French and Latin, and also studied Irish. At 16 years of age he was President of the United Irish League in Denny Stirlings. He returned to Glasgow and was much in demand as a lecturer on literary subjects. He severed his connection with the U.I.L. and joined Sinn Fein. He was also an enthusiastic Gaelic Leaguer. About a year before the Rising he returned to Ireland, and came to live in Dublin. He was killed while fighting in Henry Street, on April 28th, which, by a sad coincidence, was his thirty-fourth birthday. He fell beside The O'Rahilly and is buried in the 1916 plot in St Paul's Glasnevin.

On Easter Sunday, March 31st 1929, in the presence of several thousand people, the Easter memorial was unveiled by Frank Ryan, then O/C Dublin Brigade, I.R.A.. Before the ceremony, the people had marched from the city in procession with six bands to play them on their way.